SIX: Distracting Encounters

TRAVIS LEWIS

My phone vibrated, immediately followed by a hiss escaping my lips.

The vibration was signaling a text. A text from my father.

VC: Come to my office. I need to talk to you.

There were various perks of having my father has the vice chancellor and honestly, I hated it all. Though I loved being popular, I hated the extra popularity being associated with him brought. Simply put, I hated being associated with him.

He was my father and was nothing more than that. He was simply the man that slept with my mum, got her pregnant and for some reason unknown to me, the man she decided to get married to.

Ever since I was little, we never shared a normal relationship. We never had a reason to be close to each other, not even when my mum died, and quite frankly, I’d gotten used to it. More than used to it in fact, making his new attempts at trying to suddenly be more than just the man partially responsible for my existence nothing but irritating to me.

“What is it?” My closest friend, August, muttered to me, noticing the drastic change in my countenance. “Who texted you? Amber? Nah, of course it can’t be her. Is it your dad?”

“You guessed right,” I grabbed my backpack, immediately rising to my feet. “He asked me to come to his office. For some reason he wants to see me.”

“Hey,” August said, trying to sound positive. “You don’t have to frown. It might be for a good reason, who knows?”

“August,” I replied him, pausing to spare him a glance as I grabbed the last bits of my things. “My dad has only called me to speak to me privately twice this year. One, when he wanted to inform me he was getting remarried. And two, when he wanted me to come back home and live with his new wife and stepdaughter. So I’m pretty sure the only reason he wants to see me is for something related to them. And just how does that fall under “a good reason”?”

He shook his head and sighed, equally tired of the family drama my dad was newly getting himself involved in. Without waiting for a response from, I grabbed my phone, shoved it into my pocket and walked out of the class to head to the vice chancellor’s office.

It was supposed to be my last class of the day and though I had thirty extra minutes before it was concluded, I couldn’t bring myself to wait even an extra second more. Not with that text on my phone, birthing all forms of anxiety in me.

Ignoring all of the stares and whispers I got on my way since I was technically used to it, I made my way to his office. In no time I was there, his secretary flashing me a smile as she spotted me.

“Hello, Travis. Your dad’s inside. He has been waiting for you.”

With a simple nod, I walked towards the main door to his office. Normally, I’d offer at least a smile but I wasn’t in the mood. And a secretary that obviously had feelings for her boss’ son wasn’t enough to miraculously lift my mood.

“You wanted to see me?”

I went straight to the point the second our eyes met, my father nodding in response. There was no need for the exchange of fake pleasantries between us and we both knew better than to even attempt it.

“Yes,” he nodded, taking a spin on his chair. “I wanted to see you.”

Taking my silence as a cue, he continued. “I wanted to talk to you, Travis. About- um about the dinner. The last time we had dinner at home.”

I raised my eyebrows, barely surprised at his topic of interest. I knew it had something to do with his wife and stepdaughter. It just had to.

Luckily for him, I had on my mind. Also unluckily for him, I had no intention of uttering a single word about it to him.

“Travis, when I asked you to move in, it was because I wanted things between us to change. I know we haven’t really shared the ideal father and son relationship but I was hoping that would change. I want things to change.”

I could have laughed.

“And I know it won’t be easy,” he cleared his throat before continuing. “But I also know if we both want it, it’ll be piece of cake. We can both work towards it, put our past differences together and work on our future.”

And that was exactly where he got it all wrong. I didn’t want it.

I didn’t want to have a relationship with him. And I definitely didn’t want to have a relationship with his new wife. And the last thing I wanted was a step sibling. Especially one like Britney.

My fist tightened as I thought of her, emotions I’d been avoiding stirring up. The last thing I wanted was to form any sort of emotional connection with anyone related to my dad and just before I could set my plan into action, I ruined it myself.

By sleeping with her.

It was nothing but a one night stand to me and I was more than confident it was going to remain as nothing but that. I didn’t want anything more with her and from her actions the last couple of days, I could tell the feeling was mutual. She didn’t want me around her. And I definitely didn’t need her around me.

“For instance, you could be a bit nicer towards Britney,” he continued. “She’s a nice girl, you know. Also, she would be resuming here on Monday.”

“Resuming here?” I arched a brow at him, finally speaking up for the first time. “And why is that?”

“What do you mean why is that?” He asked with a light chuckle. “Isn’t it better that way? To have all of us close? She’s your step sister. You should be eager to form a bond with her and what better way could we do that by having you two attending the same college? You both-“

“Is that why you called me here?” I interrupted him to ask. “To tell me to be nice to her?”

“Well,” he coughed. “Yes. But that’s-“

“I’m done listening then,” once again I cut him off, tightening my grip around my backpack in preparation to walk out of his office. “If you want to have a new family, go ahead and have fun. But don’t pull me into it with you.”

“Travis-“

He kept on trying to call out to me as I walked out, every new word coming from him doing nothing but anger me. I couldn’t tell the exact reason I was pissed though- probably at the fact that he was suddenly trying to be what he wasn’t or the fact that he was trying to pull Britney and I together when it was in fact the last thing we both needed.

Glancing at the time, I clicked my tongue. Twenty minutes had managed to pass ridiculously quickly, dismissing all thoughts I had of heading back to class. So instead, I decided to head over to a more entertaining and distracting place- the bar.

Though it wasn’t late yet, I was sure after about thirty minutes of driving, the bar would be in full action by the time of got there. Regardless of it being in action or not, I was confident I was still going to be able to get myself entertained. It was just a me thing.

Just as predicted, I got to the bar in twenty minutes, my father’s words managing to echo in my head the entire time. I knew it was only going to be temporary though, all my thoughts ready to leave my head the second I stepped into the bar.

I was quickly surrounded by pulsating music and flashing lights, dozens of girls lurking around every corner of the bar. Making my way to my regular seat, I signaled to the bartender and caught his attention, ready to place my regular order.

“A glass of-“

“Martini? Make it two. His can be a little stronger though. And of course, don’t forget the extra lemon garnishing. You know he loves that.”

The seductive voice that interrupted me wasn’t an unfamiliar one. With a smirk, I turned around and just as I expected, found Amber beside me, her signature smile on her face.

“How did you find me, Amber?”

“Are you seriously asking me that, Travis?”

Of course, it was a silly question. It was Amber after all. One of the numerous girls whose life goal was to lurk around me, swooning at my every action.

Luckily for her, she was one of the few ones I constantly entertained, her entire aura actually intriguing me.

“You left class suddenly,” she walked towards me to wrap her arms around my neck before getting herself comfortable on my legs. “What happened?”

“I didn’t think you’d notice,” I replied her, watching her lean forward so her breasts in display from the low cut blouse could be more prominent. “I just got a bit bored.”

“You know you could have told me, right? I’d have left with you. To entertain you a little bit.”

I chuckled at her words, my eyes immediately roaming the surroundings of the bar. Before I could catch anyone new to tickle my fancy, she grabbed me by the chin, forcing me to stare directly at her.

“Hey, I’m here. What are you looking at?”

“Mhm?” I pressed my lips together, watching her mischievous smile play on her lips. “Nothing?”

“Travis-“

Before she could complete her statement, she was interrupted by her phone ringing, the familiar caller ID belonging to her brother immediately catching my eyes.

“Where were we?” She resumed talking, flipping her phone over to ignore her brother’s call. “I don’t have to take it. He’s just going to nag me as usual.”

Amber ignoring her brother’s calls and texts whenever she was around me was nothing strange. But what was strange was how the mention of her brother managed to suddenly plunge me into thoughts of Britney.

My new stepsister.

“Fuck,” I cursed under my breath, realizing I’d found a way to rope myself back into the thoughts I’d been avoiding. “Amber, get off me. I need to-“

“Shh,” she placed a finger on my lips, stopping me from uttering another word. “I know your dad called and I know you’re in a bad mood because of it. But don’t worry, I’m here now. I’m here to lift your mood, okay? We can go to my place if you want. Whatever you want actually. Whatever would make you happy.”

She didn’t give me a chance to object as she immediately crashed her lips against mine, pulling me into a deep kiss. One I didn’t resist, kissing her back and allowing my hands roam around her body.

It was perfect. The perfect type of distraction I needed. And knowing Amber well enough, I knew she wasn’t going to stop until I’d completely forgotten about all my thoughts related to my father’s new family and in the long run, my new stepsister.

Or rather, so I thought.